- Chapter Start –
Li LianHua wakes up to bright sunlight shining right in his face. Flinching, he shields his eyes with a hand and looks around. He's in the upstairs bedroom of Lotus Tower, but he doesn't remember going to bed last night. All he remembers is dining at Tianji Hall with Di FeiSheng, Fang DuoBing and his family and then later, gazing at the moon while wrapped in the warmth of his fur cloak… and Di FeiSheng's arm.
How romantic, a voice whispers in Li LianHua's head. Goosebumps prickle all over his body, but he scoffs.
The demon leader of the JinYuan Alliance sharing a jug of wine with a dying man, how romantic isthat?
He sits up with a groan and glances at the open deck where they sat last night. There's no sign of the cushions, food or wine on the worn wooden planks, now bathed in sunshine. Then he sees the fur cloak and maroon robes draped over a neaby bench, and looks down at himself. He's only dressed in his inner clothes.
How strange. Di FeiSheng doesn't seem the kind of man who'd put another to bed, even going to the extent of undressing them and tucking them in.
But A-Fei would, that same voice whispers in his mind. Scowling, Li LianHua swings his legs from the bed and stands up, supressing another groan. He hears familiar voices outside and peers out the window at the four figures below. Di FeiSheng is talking to – or more like confronting - two familiar people.
"I insist on checking him right now," Guan HeMeng says.
"Sure. Get through me first." Di FeiSheng's back is ramrod straight, arms folded across his chest.
"A-Fei, this is Guan HeMeng, the Divine Healer. He's helped Li LianHua before. Guan-xiong, let's just wait until Li LianHua wakes up, alright?" Fang DuoBing is obviously trying to placate both of them.
Guan HeMeng shifts his glare to him.
"'Just wait?' You gatecrashed my home last month, shouting about Li LianHua dying and begging me to save his life. Now you want me tojustwait?"
"Ah, I meant…" Fang DuoBing trails off and takes a step closer to Di FeiSheng.
"What happened?" Di FeiSheng pins him with another glare. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Fang DuoBing takes a step closer towards Su XiaoYong instead.
"You just want him all to yourself," she accuses, her voice rising. "Where is he?"
When Hulijing adds to the din by barking, Li LianHua decides it's time to intervene.
"I'm awake," he calls and waves a hand at the four faces looking up at him. "Let me get dressed and I'll be right…"
He trails off as Di FeiSheng flies up and lands on the open deck, closely followed by a relieved looking Fang DuoBing.
"Li LianHua, you're awake! Guan-xiong and Su-guniang are here to-"
"I knowwhythey're here. I just don't knowhowthey know I'm here."
Fang DuoBing opens his mouth and closes it again. With a sigh, Li LianHua reaches for the maroon robe.
"Whatever. Let me get decent first."
"Allow me." Di FeiSheng plucks the robe from his hands and holds it out for him.
"You've done enough," Li LianHua mutters.
"What's that supposed to mean? What has he done?" Fang DuoBing grabs the robe from Di FeiSheng.
"None of your business!" Di FeiSheng snatches it back.
Li LianHua stops himself from grabbing it back. Instead, he smiles nicely at Fang DuoBing.
"XiaoBao, could you please go downstairs and make some tea for our guests?"
Fang DuoBing frowns, looking between the two of them. Li LianHua claps him on the shoulder.
"We'll be right down."
"Fine. I can tell when I'm not wanted." Still pouting, Fang DuoBing heads for the stairs.
Li LianHua turns to raise an eyebrow at a smug looking Di FeiSheng.
"You're staying only because I don't think I can manage those stairs."
"Of course." Di FeiSheng doesn't bat an eye as he holds out the robe again.
- o -
The first thing Li LianHua sees when he reenters his home is a stony faced Guan HeMeng and an anxious Su XiaoYong sitting at the table.
"Guan-xiong, Su-guniang, what a surprise!" He greets with a big smile. "I see that XiaoBao has already prepared breakfast."
He gestures to the pot of tea and plate of bao on the table.
"Sit." Guan HeMeng jerks his chin at the bench opposite him.
"Fine, fine." Li LianHua sits down and stretches an arm along the table.
Guan HeMeng pushes back the sleeve and rests two fingertips on his inner wrist. In seconds, his eyes narrow and his lips thin.
"Your Yangzhouman is completely gone. So is your Qi," he bites out.
"I could've told you that myself," Li LianHua dares to chide him with a smile.
"It's only been a month or so since I last checked you. I told you to go to Yunyin Mountain to see Madam Qin. Didn't she help you?"
Li LianHua snatches his hand back, smile vanishing.
"I did. She offered. I refused."
"You'redying." Guan HeMeng glares at him. "You're practically at death's door!"
"I refuse to send anyone else there on my behalf!" Li LianHua glares right back.
The other three stay quiet, Fang DuoBing and Di FeiSheng with clenched jaws and Su XiaoYong with her hand to her mouth. The terse silence is only broken when Hulijing lets out a bark and darts outside.
"I'll go see who that is." Fang DuoBing hurries after him, followed by Di FeiSheng.
"Ah, I should also- " Li LianHua gets to his feet.
"Sit. Down." Guan HeMeng says through gritted teeth.
Li LianHua sighs and obeys.
After another minute of awkward silence, Fang DuoBing and Di FeiSheng enter with a hooded figure and Hulijing trotting by their side.
"Who… BiQiu?" Li LianHua peers at the half hidden face.
Long pale fingers push back the hood to reveal the equally pale face of Yun BiQiu.
"Sect – Li LianHua, how are you?" He takes in the other two's presence without seeming to glance at them.
"I'm fine, BiQiu. You, on the other hand, look like you haven't slept."
Yun BiQiu waves a dismissive hand.
"I met Qiao WanMian and Xiao ZiJin last night. They said you didn't want visitors, but I had to see for myself, that you – that you're-'
"Still alive?" Li LianHua asks dryly.
Yun BiQiu nods, still ignoring the others.
"You shouldn't have saved me that day. You already saved my life at the trial. You didn't need to do anymore."
Li LianHua sighs, feeling tired even though he just woke up.
"We've already gone through this, BiQiu. Let bygones be bygones. Look forward, not back."
Yun BiQiu shakes his head. He looks miserable.
"I can't. Not as long as you're - Li LianHua, if there's anything,anything-"
"There isn't, BiQiu. Yes, I wish there was too, but-"
A heavy hand lands on Li LianHua's shoulder, warm and familiar.
"Don't you think you've done enough?" Di FeiSheng's tone is biting.
"That's enough, A-Fei," Li LianHua says at once.
Yun BiQiu wets his lips. He looks stricken.
"I just… came to see-"
"The result of your handiwork?" Di FeiSheng finishes for him, the sneer obvious in his voice.
"A-Fei!" Li LianHua snaps, shrugging off the hand and getting to his feet. "BiQiu, it was my decision to cure you of the Xueronghua poison. I don't regret it."
"I shouldn't have believed you that time!" Yun BiQiu bursts out, hands curled into trembling fists. "You told me you had a cure, but I know better than anyone! There's no cure for that Godforsaken poison!"
A third silence falls, heavy with regret and guilt. Hulijing whines, looking from one to the other. Li LianHua looks around as well, seeing Fang DuoBing and Su XiaoYong's teary eyes, Di FeiSheng's angry ones and Guan HeMeng-
"Yun BiQiu, Master of Defenses of Baichuan Academy." Guan HeMeng gets to his feet, eyes fixed on Yun BiQiu's white face. "Soyouare the one who put a death sentence on Li XiangYi.Youare the one who turned him into-"
"Guan-xiong, please!" Li LianHua cuts him off before turning to Yun BiQiu whose face has gone white.
"It's my fault, I know."
"No, BiQiu, you were tricked," Li LianHua says. "And I'm still here."
"But for how long?" Yun BiQiu asks, voice shaking. "If only you hadn't used your Yangzhouman to cure me…"
"Soyou'rethe reason why he has none left?" Guan HeMeng demands.
"So it'syou!" Di FeiSheng says at the same time.
Yun BiQiu's haunted gaze goes from one to the other. Then he spins around, jumps down the steps of Lotus Tower and rushes off.
Planting his hands on his hips, Li LianHua looks at the others.
"Are you two happy now?" He demands of Guan HeMeng and Di FeiSheng who now look like they're - for want of a better word – sulking.
Hulijing barks and runs off again.
"See? He's not happy with you two either!" Li LianHua shakes his head in exasperation.
- o –
Yun BiQiu stares the small stream before him without seeing it. He's chilled and trembling which is ironic considering he has a measure of the famed Yangzhouman inside him. Even wrapping his arms around himself doesn't help. He doesn't hear the rustling of the grass until something presses against his legs, startling him.
Good thing he's not standing any closer to the stream or he'd fall right in.
"Oh, it's you. I believe Fang DuoBing called you… Hulijing?"
Hulijing gives a hopeful sounding bark.
Yun BiQiu sees a convenient rock nearby and goes to sit down on it. Hulijing crowds in at once, tail wagging as he pushes his wet nose against his hand. With a small huff, Yun BiQiu pats him.
"At least you don't hate me. Despite what he said, your master really shouldn't have cured me."
Hulijing whines and Yun BiQiu gives a wet laugh.
"How can I let bygones be bygones? I can't even end my life after promising him-"
Hulijing interrupts him with a growl. Startled for the second time – how careless can he get? - Yun BiQiu jumps to his feet and spins around. Colourful lights dance before him and he sways. He'd slept little and eaten even less after bringing the broken pieces of Shaoshi to TianJi Hall.
Two hands clamp onto his upper arms, gripping like twin vices.
"Sit down before you fall down," Guan HeMeng says tightly.
- Chapter End -
